“My House Shall Be

Called

A House of Prayer…”

20 January 2022

The statement “My house shall be called a house of prayer” appears, in one form or another, in all four Gospels. It is spoken by Jesus during the cleansing of the Temple—an incident that stands out as one of the most powerful and confrontational moments in His ministry.

We read the following accounts:

Matthew 21:13 – “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.”
Mark 11:17 – “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations, but you have made it a den of robbers.”
Luke 19:46 – “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.”
John 2:16 – “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”

One noticeable difference is the timing of the event. St John places the cleansing of the Temple at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, shortly after the wedding at Cana, while the Synoptic Gospels place it toward the end. Scholars debate whether Jesus cleansed the Temple twice or whether the Gospel writers arranged the event thematically rather than chronologically.

For us, however, the timing is not the central issue. What matters is whether such an incident could realistically have occurred—and, more importantly, why Jesus reacted so strongly.

What Does Jesus Mean by “My House Shall Be Called A House of Prayer”?

Jesus is directly quoting the prophet Isaiah:

“These I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.”
(Isaiah 56:7)

This verse emphasizes that the Temple was meant to be a place of prayer for all peoples, not only for Israel. The Temple was intended to draw humanity toward God, not to create barriers.

Were Merchants Allowed in the Temple?

Historical records indicate that merchants were allowed to sell sacrificial animals within the Temple complex—specifically in the Court of the Gentiles. This area was located outside the inner sanctuary but still within the Temple precincts, under Solomon’s Portico.

This was the only place where Gentiles—non-Jews—were permitted to gather and pray. Therefore, this court was essential to fulfilling Isaiah’s vision of a house of prayer for all nations.

Who Were the Money Changers, and Why Were They Needed?

The Roman shekel was considered ritually impure for Temple use. Roman authorities allowed Jewish leaders to mint a special Temple currency in Judea, modeled after the Tyrian shekel, which had a higher silver content.

Only this Temple currency could be used to pay the Temple tax, purchase sacrificial animals, or make offerings. As a result, pilgrims were forced to exchange their Roman currency for Temple money, a process controlled by money changers who profited from these transactions.

Why Did Jesus Call It a “Den of Robbers”?

Although selling animals in the Temple seemed convenient for pilgrims traveling long distances, the system had become deeply exploitative.

Temple authorities controlled the sale of sacrificial animals and often rejected animals brought from outside, even if they were without defect. This forced worshippers to buy Temple-approved animals at inflated prices.

Similarly, money changers made large profits through currency exchange. These funds were then used to issue loans, often with interest—something explicitly forbidden by the Law of Moses (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35–37).

Thus, what appeared to be religious commerce had become a system of exploitation, corruption, and disobedience to God’s law. For this reason, Jesus called it a “den of robbers.”

Did Jesus Use Violence?

John’s Gospel records:

“Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle.”
(John 2:15)

The whip was used to drive out the animals, not to strike people. The merchants naturally followed their livestock. There is no indication that Jesus physically harmed anyone. His actions were forceful and prophetic, not violent.

What Does This Mean for Us Today?

St Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of God:

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
(1 Corinthians 3:16)

“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19)

When we act dishonestly, exploit others, or praise corruption, we misuse our bodies—the dwelling place of God—and turn them into a den of robbers.

Many justify wrongdoing by claiming good intentions or believing that no one is guilty until caught. The Temple authorities likely reasoned in the same way. Jesus’ words challenge this mindset directly.

If our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, then our actions must reflect holiness, integrity, and justice.

Final Reflection

The cleansing of the Temple is not merely a historical account—it is a warning and an invitation. It calls each of us to examine our lives and ensure that we have not allowed exploitation, hypocrisy, or dishonesty to take root within us.

May we strive to ensure that both our churches and our lives remain what God intended them to be:

Houses of prayer.

References

Design of Jerusalem’s Temple – biblestudy.org
Temple Currency and the Tyrian Shekel – Wikipedia
Photo Credit – clipartkey.com

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Thursday, January 20, 2022